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Next week’s General Elections have more people frustrated than any I have ever seen in my lifetime. Remember – you are voting for the future of our beloved country! Not voting is a way of casting a ballot for the worse candidates!

It’s not always about “voting for the lesser of two evils” – sometimes it’s about “voting against the most evil of two candidates.”

(I, like so many others, went through my season of discontent many years ago. What I found was that voting for a minor-party or a non-party candidate was worse than not showing up. The contest is really only between the “viable” candidates. And even when neither of them share my values, I must fight evil with a smart vote – not a rhetorical symbolic vote against both viable candidates!)

We all have to wrestle with every vote. So please earnestly pray for God’s wisdom! And may The Lord bless our efforts to preserve our Constitutional Republic for our children and our children’s children with wise selections! After working 32 years with lawmakers in the State Capitol, I can guarantee you that party platforms truly do make a difference most of the time, even when individuals fail us. And don’t ever forget – our next Governor and President will appoint the Judges that fill our highest Courts, as well as all 93 federal prosecutors who in turn will decide which laws to enforce!

So – PLEASE PRAY!!!

Now – Here are MFN’s recommendations on the 6 statewide ballot questions for Missouri voters:

Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?
MFN Perspective: Missouri’s Soil & Water program fits the elements of a proper use of tax dollars as it has built and maintains a quality agricultural infrastructure. Through this program we all enjoy a higher quality of life from a higher abundance of food production, availability, and distribution. Thanks to the successful programs of our county Soil & Water Boards (locally elected) our foods get to us at a lower cost. And in the process these Boards are helping Missouri farmers adopt best practices for producing better products at lower costs, in higher volumes, and with better profits for our farmers.
The overall success of this dedicated funding underscores the value of continuing this program and further strengthening our agricultural infrastructure for another ten years.

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: establish limits on campaign contributions by individuals or entities to political parties, political committees, or committees to elect candidates for state or judicial office; prohibit individuals and entities from intentionally concealing the source of such contributions; require corporations or labor organizations to meet certain requirements in order to make such contributions; and provide a complaint process and penalties for any violations of this amendment?
MFN Perspective: Under current laws any and all campaign contributions must be reported and are made public. This proposal does not create any better public accountability than is already required. However, it does limit financial contributions – but – under this proposal, if a wealthy individual or organization wants to give a large donation, they would just spread the money around and have it reported as coming from several sources and the public would never know if the same large donors are laundering their financial influence.

The idea of limiting campaign contributions sounds good on the surface, but such laws only make it harder to expose the influence peddling of wealthy political players.
Vote NO.

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Constitutional Amendment 3 – MFN Recommends a “NO” vote
[Proposed by Initiative Petition] (Big Tobacco proposal to hurt smaller competitors that do not market cigars, chewing, or pipe tobacco products, which are not impacted by the measure.)

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: increase taxes on cigarettes each year through 2020, at which point this additional tax will total 60 cents per pack of 20; create a fee paid by cigarette wholesalers of 67 cents per pack of 20 on certain cigarettes, which fee shall increase annually; and deposit funds generated by these taxes and fees into a newly established Early Childhood Health and Education Trust Fund?

MFN Perspective: There are three grave concerns – (1) Revenues are promised to fund education just like the lottery and casinos were, but no net increase in overall funding ever happens as the new taxes only free up other general revenues which are then diverted to other budget items. Meanwhile, these new revenues cannot be used for the most important focus of a tobacco tax – smoking cessation efforts! (2) MFN opposes any vice tax (sin tax) on the grounds that they cloud judgments and make it harder to get lawmakers to understand future efforts to expose the damages caused by the vice. (3) Ten years ago Missourians were led to believe they were banning human cloning when the narrowly passed an amendment that actually wrote human cloning rights into our State Constitution. Now – this proposal adds “limited’ abortion rights (including tax funding) into the Constitution for the first time ever!

Our State legislature has laws in our State Statutes restricting abortions and all public funding waiting for the day the courts overturn Roe v. Wade. If this amendment passes, those laws will be jeopardized!
Vote NO.

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prohibit a new state or local sales/use or other similar tax on any service or transaction that was not subject to a sales/use or similar tax as of January 1, 2015?

MFN Perspective: Several conservative leaders and groups are divided on this question – here is why. Most all advocates for smaller and less restrictive government agree we need a remodeled tax code that is streamlined, easier to understand, and more equitable for all. The various “fair tax” and “flat tax” proposals would shift income and property taxes to a “consumer” base of taxation. Raising sales taxes to replace the current complicated tax codes levels the playing field for everyone regardless of income. But to keep the sticker shock low with better messaging, those sales taxes would include various services that are not now taxed. This prohibition on service taxes would require alternative tax code debates to adjust to a higher sales tax percentage on goods only. Concern that a higher proposed sales tax rate could make alternative plans harder to advocate causes some to oppose this measure.

Failure to pass this amendment means the lobby groups for various service industries that have stood in the way of a “flat” or “fair” tax , will continue fighting against a more just tax code.
Vote Yes.

Shall the Constitution of Missouri be amended to state that voters may be required by law, which may be subject to exception, to verify one’s identity, citizenship, and residence by presenting identification that may include valid government-issued photo identification?
MFN Perspective: Despite the often repeated rhetoric form the opposition to photo IDs for voting, voter fraud does in fact occur more often that anyone knows. But without effective required proofs, no one really knows how bad the problems are. Major media quotes the oppositions’ false claims, but downplay the number of well documented crimes that have been proven to have changed election outcomes!

Shall Missouri law be amended to: increase taxes on cigarettes in 2017, 2019, and 2021, at which point this additional tax will total 23 cents per pack of 20; increase the tax paid by sellers on other tobacco products by 5 percent of manufacturer’s invoice price; use funds generated by these taxes exclusively to fund transportation infrastructure projects; and repeal these taxes if a measure to increase any tax or fee on cigarettes or other tobacco products is certified to appear on any local or statewide ballot?
MFN Perspective: Similar to Amendment #3, please refer to previous commentary.

Starting today (Monday, February 29, 2016) and following, the Missouri State Senate could be debating two of the most important bills related to Religious Liberty in Missouri history!

SJR 39 Is a proposed Missouri State Constitutional amendment which would supersede and prohibit any sanctions or penalties against any church, minister, businessman, or other(s) who chose not to participate in a same-sex marriage ceremony. This is in response to the US Supreme Court’s decision last year to legalize same-sex marriages in all fifty states (including Missouri, despite our 71% statewide vote to prohibit such marriages).

While Missouri cannot refuse to grant or recognize same-sex marriages, our religious liberties should not be trampled under the foot of men in order to force everyone to support such ‘marriages’ in violation of their core values and beliefs!

If SJR 39 can pass the Senate without being thwarted by a filibuster, MFN expects to see it clear the House and go to the voters for ballot approval this coming fall.

SB 916 Seeks to restore the Religious Liberty of church institutions and religious order operations which were taken away by the Missouri State Supreme Court recently. The Missouri State Human Rights Act is a State Statute which creates penalties for businesses and property owners who violate anti-discrimination laws. This State Law was created for businesses and those engaged in economic activities. Churches and religious institutions were exempt from the law when it was created. This exemption was to guarantee that religious organizations can continue to make decisions based upon their religious convictions without having the State interfere by placing forms of affirmative action in front of religious preferences as these institutions make policy and employment decisions.

Recently the Missouri Supreme Court restricted and limited the religious exemption to the State’s Human Rights law to apply only to churches which hold worship services. Thus all ancillary programs and institutions must now fall under the control of the Human Rights Act and the State’s activist Human Rights Commission which reviews complaints and levies determinations based on their progressive opinions! This means all adoption agencies, administrative organizations, colleges and universities, publications departments, financial and pension agencies, etc., etc., etc… will all be forced to hire personnel and set policies based on fears of avoiding politically correct discrimination laws rather than religious convictions!

SB 916 upgrades the Human Rights Act statutory language to clarify the long-standing religious exemption for all religious entities. If passed, it will go to the Governor for approval or veto. If vetoed it will face an override vote in September of this year. If approved by the Governor it becomes effective in late August, if a veto override is needed in mid-September, it would be effective immediately.

Sadly, both bills are expected to come down to party line votes as the opposition is being led by progressive liberal groups who wield undue influence over the Missouri Democrat Party. This means contacts with democrat members of the Senate should be brief and to the point – asking them to please allow these bills to pass so Missouri citizens can live by their deeply held religious convictions. Republican members need to be encouraged to spend as much time debating these bills as it takes to break through any filibusters that are engaged by the small handful of liberal members who may try anything to undermine Religious Liberties!

Both SJR 39 and SB 916 have strong support and backing from the vast majority of House and Senate members. If either bill (preferably both) can come to their final votes in the two chambers, MFN expects they will receive overwhelming approval. The biggest issue at stake in passing these bills are the potential for a knock-down-drag-out-filibuster.

ACTION NEEDED: Please call and/or email your Missouri State Senator and kindly ask them to please actively support SJR 39 and SB 916. Encourage them to take an unwavering stand for Religious Liberties! Ask them to commit to fight for these bills no matter how long it may take to break any potential filibusters that may be engaged by those who prefer political correctness over Religious Liberty!

SCS HB 1132 Sponsored by Representative Engler (R), increases the amount of tax credits for contributions to pregnancy resource centers available in each fiscal year to $2.5 million. Reported do pass out of the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

HCS HB 1307 & 1313 Sponsored by Representative Elmer (R), changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours. Voted do pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

HB 1430 Sponsored by Representative Tim Jones (R), provides for the conscience rights of individuals who provide medical services. Reported to the Senate floor on Wednesday.

SCS SBs 638 & 647 Sponsored by Senator Romine (R), modifies provisions relating to benevolent tax credits. Voted do pass out of the Senate Oversight Committee on Tuesday. Reported to the House and first read on Wednesday, second read and referred to the House Economic Development Committee on Thursday.

SB 660 Sponsored by Senator Wallingford (R), designates the priority for the state with respect to any funding for family planning services. Heard in the House Health Care Policy Committee on Wednesday.

HB 1132 Sponsored by Representative Engler (R), increases the amount of tax credits for contributions to pregnancy resource centers available in each fiscal year to $2.5 million. Voted do pass out of the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

HCS HB 1192 Sponsored by Representative Miller (R), requires both custodial parents or the guardian of a minor to be notified prior to the performance of an abortion on their minor child and specifies that the constitutions and laws of the United States and Missouri must protect the rights of an alternatives-to-abortion agency and its officers to freely engage in activities without interference. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

HCS HB 1307 & 1313 Sponsored by Representative Elmer (R), changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

HB 1430 Sponsored by Representative Tim Jones (R), specifies that anyone providing medical services cannot be required to perform or participate in activities that violate his or her conscience or principles. Voted do pass out of the Senate Veterans Committee on Thursday.

HCS HB 1613 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), establishes the “Ultrasound Informed Consent Act”. Voted do pass out of the House Children and Families Committee on Tuesday.

HCS HB 1846 Sponsored by Representative Cox (R), changes the laws regarding the enforcement of abortion laws. Voted do pass out of the House Health Care Policy Committee on Wednesday. Referred to the House Rules Committee on Thursday.

HB 2206 Sponsored by Representative Brattin (R), requires the written consent of the father of the child before an abortion can be performed, with certain exceptions. Referred to the House Children and Families Committee on Tuesday.

Budget bills, including the A2A program, will continue to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee thought the week.

HB 1132 Sponsored by Representative Engler (R), increases the amount of tax credits for contributions to pregnancy resource centers available in each fiscal year to $2.5 million. Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

HB 1430 Sponsored by Representative Tim Jones (R), specifies that anyone providing medical services cannot be required to perform or participate in activities that violate his or her conscience or principles. Heard in the Senate Veterans Committee on Thursday.

HCS HB 1478 Sponsored by Representative Swan (R), changes the laws regarding the protection of women’s health care. Voted do pass out of the House Health Care Policy Committee on Wednesday.

HB 1613 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), establishes the “Ultrasound Informed Consent Act”. Heard in the House Children and Families Committee on Tuesday.

The total 2015 Missouri budget was passed through the House on Thursday with the 50% A2A funding increases intact. The budget now must go through the Senate Legislative process.

HB 1132 Sponsored by Representative Engler (R), increases the amount of tax credits for contributions to pregnancy resource centers available in each fiscal year to $2.5 million. Second read and referred to the Senate Local Government Committee on Thursday.

HCS HB 1192 Sponsored by Representative Miller (R), requires both custodial parents or the guardian of a minor to be notified prior to the performance of an abortion on their minor child and specifies that the constitutions and laws of the United States and Missouri must protect the rights of an alternatives-to-abortion agency and its officers to freely engage in activities without interference. Second read and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

HCS HBs 1307 & 1313 Sponsored by Representative Elmer (R), changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours. Second read and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

HB 1904 Sponsored by Representative Smith (D), changes the laws regarding school course materials and instruction relating to human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases. As well as allowing all schools in the state to provide abortion referrals, as well as allow abortion providers to teach sex education. Heard in the House Children and Families Committee on Tuesday.

HB 2072 Sponsored by Representative Messenger (R), prohibits any public funds or governmental economic incentives to be authorized for a project involving abortion services, human cloning, or prohibited human research. Referred to the House Economic Development Committee on Wednesday.

HB 2206 Sponsored by Representative Brattin (R), requires the written consent of the father of the child before an abortion can be performed, with certain exceptions. First read in the House on Thursday.

SB 660 Sponsored by Senator Wallingford (R), designates the priority for the state with respect to any funding for family planning services. Perfected in the Senate on Wednesday. First read in the house on Thursday.

SB 953 Sponsored by Senator Nasheed (D), raises the fiscal year cap for the Maternity Home Tax Credit from $2 million to $2.5 million. Second read and referred to the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

All the House budget bills where voted through the House Rules Committee on Thursday, including HB 2005, which includes the Alternative to Abortion funding.

HB 1103 Sponsored by Representative Gatschenberger (R), specifies that the constitutions and laws of the United States and Missouri must protect the rights of an alternatives-to-abortion agency and its officers to freely engage in activities without interference. Voted and reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Monday.

HB 1132 Sponsored by Representative Engler (R), increases the amount of tax credits for contributions to pregnancy resource centers available in each fiscal year to $2.5 million. Voted and reported do pass out of the House Rules Committee on Monday. Perfected in the House, and referred to the House Fiscal Review Committee on Wednesday. Third read and passed through the House, and first read in the Senate on Thursday.

HCS HB 1192 Sponsored by Representative Miller (R), requires both custodial parents or the guardian of a minor to be notified prior to the performance of an abortion on their minor child and specifies that the constitutions and laws of the United States and Missouri must protect the rights of an alternatives-to-abortion agency and its officers to freely engage in activities without interference. Perfected in the House on Monday. Third read and passed through the House and first read in the Senate on Tuesday.

HCS HBs 1307 & 1313 Sponsored by Representative Elmer (R), changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours. Third read and passed through the House, and first read in the Senate on Tuesday.

HB 1437 — BUSINESS FEES Schupp, Jill D. Seltzer (088) Modifies laws relating to certain business fees by allowing changes to such fees to occur only during specified time periods, beginning in 2016

HB 1447 — DRIVER’S AND NON-DRIVER LICENSES Cox, Stanley (052) Spencer, Bryan (063) Specifies that no person shall have to produce source documents for a drivers’ license renewal if the documents were necessary to obtain the original driver’s license